Dress code for teachers
Ronelle Ramsamy
THE attire of educators will soon be guided by a proper dress protocol expected to come into effect at the end of September.
The SA Council of Education (SACE) is currently reviewing reports and will draw up specific guidelines for teachers at their next Council meeting in two months' time.
The move comes after the Department of Education received numerous complaints that some teachers were dressing inappropriately for the classroom.
Tasked with finding a resolution, SACE CEO, Rej Brijraj told the Zululand Observer that the dress protocol was not meant to tarnish the image of educators, as the majority did dress quite appropriately.
'It is obligatory that educators must dress in a manner that is appropriate and suitable especially in the eyes of the community they serve.
'However, we cannot tell educators exactly what to wear.
'We will just try to outline what teachers should not wear in an effort to define 'inappropriate' dress. Teachers are definitely expected to dress appropriately and cannot wear PE shorts when teaching an academic subject or dress in a way that is too revealing, especially in front of grown learners,' said Brijraj.
Uniform
However, he said Council could not promote the idea of uniforms for educators.
'Some schools do have uniforms, which works well and schools are at liberty to choose that route.
'But, there are cost implications and we cannot prescribe uniforms for educators across the board.
'As a guardian of the profession, SACE promotes good ethics for the profession without putting out a grocery list of what to do. Our educators are treated as professionals.'
In the interim, SACE has urged educators to dress appropriately while guidelines are being drawn up.
'We encourage educators to rise up to the standards that the profession requires.
'Any allegation against a teacher in terms of conduct and attire must be brought to our attention,' added Brijraj.
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